What do ABBA, Olivia Newton-John, and Celine Dion have in common?
They all had their early careers boosted by competing in the Eurovision Song Contest, the annual event that’s been bopping heads since 1956.
Increasingly, a number of those heads belong to American fans. Even more so after the Netflix film The Story of Fire Saga, starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams premiered in 2020.
2020 was also the first year in Eurovision’s history the show went dark due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as did nearly every event.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
The good news is the contest is back in full force for 2021, and for the first time, it’s fully accessible to American audiences. Free streaming service Peacock will air the competition this week, beginning with its first Semi-Final on Tuesday, 18 May, 2021, 3:00 ET, then the second Semi-Final on Thursday, 20 May, 2021, 3:00 ET, and the grand Finale on Saturday, 22 May, 2021, 3:00 ET.
Now, enjoy five of the queerest performances to ever grace the Eurovision stage:
Conchita Wurst – Rise Like a Phoenix (Austria) 2014 Eurovision Second Semi-Final
Ryan Dolan – Only Love Survives (Ireland) 2013 Grand Final
Sestre – Samo Ljubezen (Slovenia) 2002
Verka Serduchka – Dancing Lasha Tumbai (Ukraine) 2007
Dana International – Diva (Israel) 1998
Prinny
While eurovision is extremely campy it has nothing to with q**** word people and is inherently a political contest
Sabelmann
This Point is made for 50 Years! ESC Fans have no Problem with it because we know!
Fahd
Apparently Turkey has stopped participating because things got too gay – so that’s something.
mailliw110
It’s the 80″s all over again…and again…
wimo
This year, even more than others, the number of gay artists is very large. I like Germany, cute boy.
Even when i’am Belgian, living at the french part, the lower, down under Brussels. Our group goes to the final (Hooverphonic)
hansniemeijer
It is the Eurovision Song Contest, not Eurovision. That is the brand name for the EBU, the European Broadcasting Union of state television channels. Some members of the EBU are NOT LGBT+ friendly, like Hungary, Poland and Russia. However, countries don’t have to send contestants or show the ESC.
Prowelsh56
LOL this is not a gay song contest. Good Lord. Folks need a bit of historical persepctive on this. Post Worl War Two – was a way to re-united Europe after the devastation. I for one, remain dismayed at how this has now become a gay song contest! Now it it much more a spectacle and less about songs.